I have been with my partner for 14 years. I have an older child from a previous relationship and 3 children age 8 and 10 between us.
Things haven't been right for many years. We generally get along okay but our communication has always been quite poor. My partner has had some anger issues which have calmed a lot in recent years, but have caused harm regarding how I feel about him and the relationship with my eldest, now adult, child.
Intimacy has been slowly eroding over many years without either one of us mentioning it. We havent had sex in many years and only hug or kiss in a way you may hug or kiss a friend, and even that is very rare.
I'm so scared of making a mistake by either staying or going and feel a bit paralysed by indecision, mainly now centered around the hurt it would cause the younger children. But then I think it's better to split now if there is no chance of getting a satisfying relationship for both of us.
My partner is taking it quite badly since I mentioned that splitting up may be a possibility a couple of weeks ago. He was sent home from work last week as he was breaking down.
We have been to one councelling session which set the scene and have our next one tomorrow. I need to be certain but it just seems so huge and overwhelming. Is it obvious to everyone else that thete is no getting back from this or have others managed to do it. I'm not even sure I want to
Any advice welcome.
Not sure of it's the done thing but I have also posted in another section...